Muir critical of ELVs

Springbok assistant coach Dick Muir wants the game's law makers to bring back the rolling maul and get rid of the new five metre rule for backs at scrum time.

The man who will join forces with Peter de Villiers in planning the world champions' game strategy against the British & Irish Lions in three months time is frustrated by many of the ELVs that have been introduced across the global game.
And with the IRB set to have a conference on the trial laws at the end of the month, the Springbok view is likely to be forceably put.
Speaking to Simnikiwe Xabanisa, of the South African Sunday Times, Muir listed his grievances.
"The five-metre law at scrums is a bad one and has had an influence on the kicking game. It has hampered strike play from the set-piece with the backs, exaggerated the drift defence and made things easier for the defending side," claimed Muir.
"It's had the reverse effect to what they were hoping for. They were trying to favour the attacking side, they are benefiting the attacking side by allowing them to get momentum, but there is little strike play from it."
Other laws Muir would like to see altered are the officiating of the breakdown and the return of rolling mauls from lineouts.
"The decision- making for the referees at the breakdown area is something that has over-complicated things for them and caused it to be a bit of a lottery," he added.
"From a South African perspective we'd like to see the driving maul back. That would even things out a little more in the lineouts."
Rugby around the world has seen a proliferation of kicking due to the ELVs and Muir concedes the laws have changed the way teams have been playing.
"In the past, Super 14 rugby was about whoever controlled the possession. Now it's not about possession, it's about where they're playing the rugby," he said.
"There has been a lot more kicking because teams have tended to try and play very little rugby in their own halves. I've sensed frustration in some games and spectators have been getting fed up with the kicking and started booing.
"The breakdown is such a 50/50 scramble at the moment. What used to happen was that the side carrying the ball into that contact area tended to be favoured, but now the area is so heavily contested you're not guaranteed to come out with the ball if you take it in.
"But if you back your skill, and know you can control the tempo of the game, you can still get an advantage from it."

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